If you (or your parents) don't listen to jazz, you might not have heard Herbie Hancock's newest album "River: The Joni Letters."  Maybe it's time to pick up a copy.

"River" earned a 2008 Grammy award for Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Jazz Album - not bad for a genre that traditionally misses the limelight at awards ceremonies.

Hancock erased any doubt that jazz musicians are a dying breed with his victory.  It is only the second jazz album to win the top prize at the Grammys, and the first since 1964's "Getz/Gilberto."

This album is a beauty for jazz fans who need something to be excited about.

"River: The Joni Letters" showcases talent from the past and present including Tina Turner, Norah Jones and, of course, Joni Mitchell herself, to whom the album is a tribute.  She and Hancock have been friends for nearly three decades.

 Eight of the album's 10 tracks were written by Mitchell at the height of her career, and they are beautifully arranged by Hancock to reflect the original character of her performances.  "Both Sides Now" and "Sweet Bird" are now instrumentals that capture the emotion of Mitchell's folk songs of the 1970s.

The other two tracks are products of the jazz world, written by Duke Ellington and Hancock's contemporary Wayne Shorter.  Shorter is the saxophonist on the album and coaxes melodies out of his tenor saxophone with ease on his composition "Nefertiti."

It is also sure to strike a chord with followers of Mitchell's career, the highlights of which have been carefully selected for this occasion. 

The songs are slow but beautiful, intricate but entrancing.  Like its namesake, a river, it can be relaxing but is always moving and changing.  Less-experienced jazz listeners may not appreciate the intricacy but they will enjoy the ride.

Hancock scored big for himself with his Grammy win, but he also put the spotlight back on something more important: the music.  With any luck, we won't have to wait 40 more years for a jazz album worthy of recognition.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

 Track to check out: "The Tea Leaf Prophecy" (Lay Down Your Arms) with Joni Mitchell